Matabeleland on the verge of registering their first victory this season

Some disciplined bowling by Matabeleland saw them on the verge of registering their first victory as they managed to restrict Mashonaland A on the third day of their Castle Lager Logan cup match at Queens Sports Club today.

Mashonaland took a 212-run lead as they closed on 261 for seven after their first innings score of 270 in reply to Matabeleland's 319.

Mashonaland resumed the third day on 13 for no wicket in 13 overs, with their openers Grant Flower and Brendon Taylor unbeaten with eight and five runs respectively. However, Flower failed to find his form with the bat and added only 12 runs to his overnight score when he was dismissed by Mpumelelo Mbangwa, with wicketkeeper Stuart Walker taking a catch behind to dismiss him for 20 runs.

Senior national team skipper Stuart Carlisle also failed to impress with the bat, scoring only four when he drove medium pacer Mike McKillop straight back, presenting him with a simple catch off his own bowling. Mbangwa took his second wicket when he had opener Taylor caught behind by Walker for 17. This dismissal sparked a collapse by Mashonaland A as the young batsman had selected his shots well and in the process played a good anchor role for his more experienced colleagues.

The left-handed Gavin Rennie and hard-hitting Mark Vermeulen put life in the Mashonaland innings with a fourth-wicket stand of 74 runs. Rennie went on to score his half-century in 90 balls and Mashonaland went to lunch on 84 for four.

Rennie had added only three runs to his score after the break when he was given out leg-before wicket to spinner Gavin Ewing. Vermeulen was joined by Taibu in the hunt for the runs and the two put on 26 runs for the fifth wicket before Vermeulen was dismissed by McKillop, Gregory Strydom taking a brilliant catch to dismiss him for 43. The batsman was not amused by the decision and stood at the crease before he was told to leave by the umpires. Vermeulen is gaining an increasingly bad reputation for his on-field behaviour.

Matabeleland suffered a severe blow in their quest to bowl out their opponents when they lost opening bowler Mbangwa, who left the field of play after lunch because of a back strain and was not able to bowl, though he later returned. Zimbabwe A batsman Alester Maregwede top-scored with 68 runs as Mashonaland A closed the day on 261 for seven in 110 overs, with Elton Chigumbura and tail-ender Prosper Utseya not out on 15 and one respectively.

Play resumes in the morning with Matabeleland aiming to bowl out their opponents before they score too many more runs and then complete their victory with the bat.